Music box construction



United States Patent MUSIC BOX CONSTRUCTION Rudolph W. Chaplar, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Knickerbocker Plastic Co., Inc., North Hollywood, Calif., a corporation of California Application July 12, 1954, Serial No. 442,581

8 Claims. (Cl. 84-95) This invention relates to a musical toy, e.g., in the form of a music box, and more particularly concerns a novel combination of musical comb and clamping plate for use in a music box.

In musical toys or music boxes of the foregoing type, the construction generally includes a musical comb, the teeth or tines of which are sequentially arranged and adapted to be successively, or in some cases simultaneously, plucked throughout the length of the row in which they are arranged to produce a chosen melody. Music box instruments of this nature usually comprise a means for selectively plucking the free ends of the teeth to produce a tune. Such means may, for example, include a cylinder with projections punched up from the surface thereof, and rotated by means of a driving mechanism to bring the projections on the cylinder into striking contact with the free ends of the respective teeth of the comb at selected intervals, causing the teeth to vibrate and produce the desired tones. Like the notes of a diatonic scale, the reeds or teeth of the comb are struck at various predetermined times to produce the desired melody.

Despite the care exercised in the design and fabrication of such musical combs, it is often difficult to obtain the proper tone and volume of tone desired for the various teeth, and once the comb is cut or stamped, the tones produced by the various teeth are essentially fixed. This is due to the fact that in the prior art combs substantially only the teeth themselves vibrate when they are plucked, and the case or block of the comb to which the teeth are attached being fixed to the music box frame, is substantially prevented from vibrating and hence is unable to cooperate with the respective teeth of the comb to produce the desired quality and volume of tone. Moreover, when the comb is stamped in one piece, since the teeth are generally attached to the supporting member along an edge thereof disposed at an angle to the teeth, one side edge of a tooth is somewhat longer than the other side edge, and hence different portions of each tooth tend to vibrate at different frequencies, impairing the quality of tone.

It is an object of the invention to provide a musical comb, the teeth of which produce improved tone and volume of tone.

Another object is to afford a simple musical comb structure having sharp tones.

Still another object is the provision of a musical comb structure wherein the frequency of the teeth is increased to obtain sharp tones, and wherein such increase in frequency is adjustable.

The foregoing objects are accomplished according to the invention by positioning one or more clamping plates over the surface of the base or block of the comb, an edge of each of the clamping plates being positioned in a certain relationship to the fixed ends of the comb teeth. In the instant invention, one edge of the clamping plate or plates has a configuration in the form of stepped treads, the treads extending across the comb block and the 2,880,640 Patented Apr. 7, 1959 ICC teeth and each tread terminating at a point between the teeth. Preferably, the clamping plate overlaps a portion of each of the teeth. This tends to shorten the effective length of the teeth, since those portions of the teeth with which the clamping plate is in contact will essentially be prevented from vibrating, and only the remaining portions of the teeth will be effective in prm ducing tones. Because the efiective length of the teeth are shortened, the teeth are made stiffer, increasing the frequency thereof and producing sharper tones. The clamping plate can be made adjustable to increase or decrease the portion of each tooth which it overlaps, and hence the frequency of the teeth can be varied as desired. Further, since the side edges of each tooth are made effectively equal according to the invention, due to the extension of an edge of the treads across the teeth in a direction normal thereto, all portions of each tooth vibrate at substantially the same frequency, resulting in a purer tone. The overlapping portion of the clamping plate or plates in contact with the teeth also tends to increase the volume of the tones without affecting the quality thereof. This is believed brought about because the vibrating teeth transmit their energy to such overlapping portion, causing the latter also to break into vibration.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the description below of a preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the comb and clamping plate structure of the invention;

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary section taken on line la-la of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1b is a fragmentary section taken on lines 1b--1b of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device assembled to form a musical box with the top of the case broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, shown partly in full lines for clarity; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, numeral 10 represents a musical comb comprising a series of spaced parallel tines or teeth 12 each fastened at one end 13 to a supporting member or comb block 14. Block 14 is positioned at an acute angle to the teeth and the edge 15 of block 14 formed by a line joining the ends 38 of each of the parallel spaces or slots 40 between the teeth, forms an acuate angle with the teeth 12. The elongated teeth are of varying lengths to produce the desired tones, the free ends 16 of the teeth being in alignment with each other. It is understood, of course, that the length and location of the various teeth of the comb may be varied, and some teeth may have the same length as others. The comb may be formed by punching out the teeth from a single strip of sheet metal or other metal, such as aluminum or Phosphor bronze, and the comb including the teeth thereof is of uniform thickness throughout.

A pair of clamping plates 18 are positioned in alignment with each other and in contact with the opposite sides of the block 14 of the comb. The side edges 20 and 22 and the top edge 24 of each of the plates have substantially the same contour as the corresponding side and top edges of the comb block 14, so that the plates substantially overlie the entire surface of the supporting member or block 14. Apertures 32 are provided in the plates 18 to receive screws 34 or other similar fasteners to secure the plates on the comb and to fasten this assembly to the frame of the music box mechanism as described more fully hereinafter.

According to my invention it will be seen that plates 18 have a portion 36 which overlaps a portion of each of teeth 12 adjacent the fixed ends 13 thereof; that is, portion 36 of the plates is in contact with the upper ends of the teeth as seen in Fig. 1. The overlapping edge 39 of each of the plates 18 has a configuration in the form of progressive] stepped treads or serrations 41, each of the steps extending across at least one of the teeth 12 in a direction normal thereto. These treads terminate approximately midway across the spaces 40 between the teeth 12. Thus, for example, the tread 41 between points A and B extends across two of the teeth 12, the horizontal edge, of the tread commencing at the point A about mid way of the distance across one of the spaces or slots 46, and terminating at a point B about midway across another slot 40 between a pair of teeth. The two teeth 12a and 12b traversed by the tread 42 are now in effect shortened in length to a distance equal to that between line AB and the free ends 16 of these teeth. It is seen that the side edges 12' and 12" of each of these teeth also are of equal length. Since teeth 12a and 12b are made effectively equal in length by plates 18, these teeth form a double note.

Tread 41 has a side edge which extends a short distance from point B upwardly parallel to teeth 12 to point C. The adjacent tread 41 commences at point C and has a horizontal edge traversing one tooth 12c and terminating at a point D preferably about midway across a slot or space 40 on the other side of tooth 120. In this manner, tooth 120 is effectively shortened in length to a distance between edge CD of tread 41 to the free end 16 of tooth 12c, and the lengths of the side edges 12c and 12p" of this tooth are made substantially equal.

In like manner, successive stepped treads or serrations shorten the eifective length of the remaining teeth 12 and give these teeth uniform length dimensions along their respective side edges. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it is observed that the effective lengths of the successive teeth to the right of 12c between edge 39 of plates 18 and the free ends of these teeth are successively increased, although not in exactly the same proportion as the actual progressive increase in length of the adjacent teeth. It is to be understood that the stepped treads formed along the lower portion of plates 18 may be varied to produce teeth of the desired effective length in progression, and each of the treads may be of length such as to traverse one, two or more adjacent teeth. Thus, the treads between points A and B, and between points E and F form double notes, since each of these treads traverses two teeth 12, and the treads between say points C and D and between points G and H, form single notes since each of the latter treads traverses only a single tooth. Further, it is not necessary that the treads commence and terminate midway across the spaces 40 between the teeth, so long as these terminal points are located somewhere within these spaces.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the plates may be made adjustable to vary the effective lengths of the teeth and to change the tonal qualities of the teeth and the volume of tone. Thus, the portion of the plates overlapping the teeth can be changed to correct the pitch and timbre of tone, the latter being dependent upon the production of the proper overtones and harmonics, and also to increase or decrease the amplitude (loudness).

The above described comb and plate assembly is assembled in a music box by positioning such assembly at one end of a frame 48, see Fig. 2, and fastening the comb 10, and plates 18 to the frame by means of the screws 34. The frame 48 is positioned within a housing or case 50 by means of screws or other fasteners 52 passing through brackets 54 located along the sides of the frame, and the base 56 of the housing. It is seen from Fig. 4 that the lower plate 18 separates the comb from the end 58 of the frame to which it is attached, and that the comb and its teeth 12 are out of contact with the frame so that the teeth are free to vibrate when plucked in the manner described below.

A substantially rectangular space 60 is formed in the frame by the arms 62 and the cross member 64 thereof, and by the lower end of the comb 10 defined by the free ends 16 of the comb teeth 12. In this space is positioned a cylinder 66 mounted for rotation on an axle 67 journaled in end members or brackets 68 and 69 on arms 62. The cylinder 66 is generally formed of a sheet metal strip which is rolled into the form of a cylinder, the ends of which are positioned by suitable means in caps 70 carrying the axle 67. While in flat sheet form, projections in the form of flaps or tongues 71 are punched up from the surface of the sheet, so that when the sheet is rolled into the form of a cylinder and positioned in frame 48 between end members 68 and 69, these projections are in alignment with the teeth 12 of the comb and are so spaced from each other as to give the desired tones when the drum or cylinder is rotated to bring these projections into contact with the free ends 16 of the teeth. The cylinder 66 is positioned in the frame so that the outer surface of the cylinder is spaced substantially parallel to a line joining the free ends of teeth 12, such surface being disposed a short distance from the free ends 16 of the teeth so that the projections 71 on the cylinder will pluck the free ends of the teeth when the cylinder is rotated. It is seen in Fig. 4 that cylinder 66 is positioned in the frame so that comb 10 is in a horizontal plane in alignment with a diameter of the cylinder.

A pinion '72 for driving cylinder 66 is fixedly connected axially to axle 67 adjacent one end of the cylinder and the adjacent frame bracket 69. Member 73 for operating the pinion is in the form of a rod 74 which extends through an aperture '75 in the case 56, the rod having a crank 76 and 'a handle 77 connected at right angles to the outer end of the crank. The outer end 74' of rod 74, including crank 76 and the handle, is located outside the case 50. At the inner end of the rod a worm gear 78 is provided by winding a wire in the form of a spiral about a portion of the rod. The rod 74 is positioned on a bracket 79 freely mounted on axle 67, so that worm 78 is in meshing engagement with the teeth of pinion 7 for driving same and the cylinder 66, on rotation of crank 76 through manual manipulation of handle 77. Such operation of the handle and crank brings the projections 71 on the cylinder 66 into successive contact with the ends of the various teeth 12 of the comb, to cause vibration thereof and produce the desired tones according to the invention. Rod 74, including the worm '78 carried thereby, is journaled for rotation within the aperture 75 of the case, and is fixed against longitudinal movement by bracket 79.

If desired, instead of employing a pair of the base members or clamping plates 18, I may use only one of such plates, or more than two of these plates positioned against the block 14 of the comb, as described above, the plates being in alignment with each other and fastened to the comb in any desired manner.

While I have described a particular embodiment of my invention for the purpose of illustration, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument which comprises a plurality of spaced parallel elongated teeth, a supporting member for said teeth, one end of said teeth being fixed to said supporting member, the other end of each of said teeth being free, and a clamping plate positioned on said supporting member, one edge of said plate having a configuration in the form of stepped treads, said treads each extending across at least one of said teeth in contact with the fixed end portion thereof, and each of said treads terminating at a point located intermediate said teeth.

2. A musical instrument which comprises a frame,

a plurality of spaced parallel elongated teeth, a supporting member for said teeth, said supporting member being disposed at an angle to said teeth, one end of each of said teeth being fixed to said supporting member, the other end of each of said teeth being free, a clamping plate positioned on said supporting member, one edge of said plate having a configuration in the form of stepped treads overlapping a portion of each of said teeth, said treads each extending across at least one of said teeth in a direction normal to said teeth, each of said treads terminating at a point located intermediate said teeth and extending from said point in a direction parallel to said teeth to one end of an adjacent tread, and means for securing said supporting member and said clamping plate in said frame.

3. A musical instrument which comprises a plurality of spaced parallel elongated teeth, a supporting member for said teeth, one end of each of said teeth being fixed to said supporting member, the other end of each of said teeth being free, and a clamping plate positioned on said supporting member, said clamping plate overlapping a portion of each of said teeth, the overlapping edge of said plate having a configuration in the form of stepped treads, each of said treads extending across at least one of said teeth and terminating in a space between said teeth.

4. A musical instrument which comprises a frame, a plurality of spaced parallel elongated pluckable teeth, a supporting member disposed at an acute angle to said teeth, one end of each of said teeth being integrally fixed to said supporting member, the other end of each of said teeth being free to vibrate, a clamping plate positioned on said supporting member, said clamping plate overlapping a portion of each of said teeth, the overlapping edge of said plate having a configuration in the form of stepped treads, each of said treads extending across at least one of said teeth and terminating in a space between said teeth, and means for securing said supporting member and said clamping plate in said frame.

5. A musical instrument which comprises a plurality of spaced parallel elongated pluckable teeth, at least some of said teeth being unequal in length, a frame, a block for supporting said teeth, said block being positioned at an acute angle to said teeth, one end of each of said teeth being attached to said block, the other end of each of said teeth being free to vibrate, said free ends of said teeth being substantially in alignment with each other, the side edges of at least some of said teeth being unequal in length, a clamping plate positioned on said block, said clamping plate overlapping a portion of each of said teeth adjacent the fixed ends thereof, the overlapping edge of said plate having a configuration in the form of progressive stepped treads, each of said treads extending across at least one of-said teeth in a direction normal thereto, and terminating in a space adjacent said at least one of said teeth, the side edges of each tooth between the tread overlapping said tooth and the free end of said tooth being approximately of equal length, means for securing said supporting member and said clamping plate in said frame, and means for selectively plucking the free ends of said teeth to produce a tune.

6. A musical instrument which comprises a frame, a musical comb, said comb including a plurality of spaced parallel elongated pluckable teeth of varying progressively increasing lengths, a block for supporting said teeth, said block being positioned at an acute angle to said teeth, one end of each of said teeth being integrally attached to said block, the other ends of said teeth being aligned and free to vibrate, the edge of said supporting member adjacent said teeth forming an acute angle with said teeth, the sides of at least some of said teeth being unequal in length, the edge of said block formed by the ends of the spaces between said teeth defining a sloping line with respect to a line normal to said teeth, a pair of clamping plates positioned in alignment on opposite sides of said block, each of said clamping plates overlapping a portion of each of said teeth adjacent the fixed ends thereof, the overlapping edge of each of said plates having a configuration in the form of progressive stepped treads, each of said treads extending across at least one of said teeth in a direction normal thereto and terminating approximately midway across a space adjacent said at least one of said teeth, the side edges of each tooth between the tread overlapping said tooth and the free end of said tooth being approximately of equal length, means for securing said block and said clamping plates in said frame, and means for selectively plucking the free ends of said teeth to produce a tune.

7. A musical instrument which comprises a plurality of spaced parallel elongated teeth, a supporting member for said teeth, one end of said teeth being fixed to said supporting member, the other end of each of said teeth being free, and a base member on said supporting member, one edge of said base member having a configuration in the form of stepped treads, said treads each extending across at least one of said teeth in contact with the fixed end portion thereof, and each of said treads terminating at a point located intermediate said teeth.

8. A musical instrument which comprises a plurality of spaced parallel elongated teeth, a supporting member for said teeth, one end of each of said teeth being fixed to said supporting member, the other end of each of said teeth being free, and a clamping plate positioned on said supporting member, said clamping plate overlapping a portion of each of said teeth, the overlapping edge of said plate having a configuration in the form of stepped treads, each of said treads extending entirely across at least one of said teeth in a direction normal thereto, rendering the side edges of said tooth substantially equal from said treads to the free end of said tooth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,346,444 Machlin et al. Apr. 11, 1944 2,487,138 Howe Nov. 8, 1949 2,504,632 Blair Apr. 18, 1950 2,504,666 Duncan Apr. 18, 1950 2,630,655 Duncan Mar. 10, 1953 2,735,328 Bangs et al. Feb. 21, 1956 

